MacKinnon, Bates won’t run again

Candidates had filed by midday Aug. 7 for seats on all four elected local boards that have seats up for election Nov. 7, but in some of the races, there weren’t yet enough people running to fill all the seats.

The deadline to file is 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 10, but races without an incumbent candidate will remain open until Wednesday, Aug. 15.

Allan MacKinnon, president of the Cambria Community Services District Board of Directors, has announced he won’t run for another term.

With his 75th birthday approaching quickly, MacKinnon decided he’d rather dedicate his life to his wife, family and friends, have more time for travel (anyone for China?) and returning to his other love, painting.

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That’s not to say he hasn’t enjoyed his CCSD ride. “I really love this job,” he said. “I like everyone on the board and the staff. And our naysayers I consider them the sixth board member. They’re our conscience.”

He’ll still keep tabs on the district, but he’ll follow the lead of friends who “say they enjoy the CCSD with a glass of wine, some crackers and cheese” as they watch the Channel 21 cablecasts on TV.

Greg Bates, trustee on the Cambria Community Healthcare District, said Tuesday he, too, is not going to file for another term. “I think we’re headed in the right direction,” he said Tuesday. “I’m happy to feel like my eight years (on the board) were successful.”

According to the county Elections Division website, those who had filed for local races by 2 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 7, included:

Cambria Community Services District, three seats up for election: Directors Muril Clift and Gail Robinette filed. Four who applied to fill the vacancy that Gail Robinette won in December (Tom Gray, Amanda Rice, Valerie Bentz and Tom McLaughlin) had not filed by midday Tuesday.

Cambria Community Healthcare District, three four-year terms, one two-year term: Board President Kristi Jenkins and Trustee Barbara Bronson Gray filed to retain their four-year seats. Nobody had filed for Bates’ seat or for the two-year term.

Williams filed for four-year terms; Vice Chairman Ralph McAdams and Mary Power Giacoletti are facing off for the two-year vacancy.

Coast Unified School District Board of Trustees, three four-year seats: Board President Cindy Fratto filed, and Judith A. Hillen had taken out papers by Aug. 7, but hadn’t filed them. Current trustees Robert Gong and Victoria Dandurand hadn’t filed.

Steve Kniffen said he intends to register by Sept. 10 as a write-in candidate for both the Cambria services district and Coast school board races.

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